Every town in Iceland, no matter how small or isolated, seems to have its own historic church. Usually it is perched high on a hill or overlooking the water. We loved the attention to detail and beauty of these unique churches. Some of the buildings are made of concrete or colorful corrugated iron to withstand the harsh weather and winter wind; others are made of stone or turf (sod). Christianity was adopted in this country around 1000 AD, and 80% of the population is Lutheran. That said, Icelanders are free thinking and embrace people of all faiths. “Kirkja” at the end of a word means “church” in Icelandic. Click on any of these pictures to bring up further details and traveling advice.

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About PamRichard and Pam lived in the San Francisco Bay Area 14 years (1987-1999 and 2008-2011). They lived in Florida 13 years previously, until returning in July 2011 to present. They hope their photography will encourage you to get out and discover nature's beauty in your own backyard, parks, and wild places. Click on any pictures on this blog to see them full size with additional details.

I just love the elegant simplicity of so many of these churches, Pam. Do they do the turf roofs strictly for insulation, or is there another reason? And of course my favorites are the Strandarkirkja Foot-High Elf Houses. 🙂 ~Terri

They were really beautiful. I loved the blue ceiling with gold stars, and their locations were inspiring. The turf is used mainly for insulation, and also reflects the lack of readily available building materials (there aren’t many trees in Iceland). And who wouldn’t like the elf houses – so excited to see them!